The US International Trade Commission (USITC) is undertaking a new fact-finding investigation on US-Haiti trade and the impact of US trade preference programmes on Haiti’s economy and workers. The investigation was requested by the US House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means in a letter received by the USITC on February 22 this year.

The Commission’s report will provide an overview of Haiti’s international trade since 1980, with special emphasis of the impact of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA), Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement (HOPE) Act of 2006, HOPE II in 2008, and the Haiti Economic Lift Program (HELP) in 2010, and the Trade Acts of 2000 and 2002 on Haiti’s trading relationship with the United States, Haiti’s economy, and workers, an official release said.

The House committee noted in its letter that the HOPE and HELP preference programmes will expire on September 30, 2025.

The report will provide an overview of the Haitian economy and its competitiveness; examine the role of US preference programmes in shaping Haiti’s economy; and offer case studies on goods currently and historically exported from Haiti such as apparel, tropical fruits, and sporting goods.

The USITC expects to submit its report to the Committee by December 22. It will hold a public hearing in connection with the investigation via an online video conference platform on May 26.  It has also sought written submissions for the record. 

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)

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